A Bad Day

Luke 23:38-43
38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence?
41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."
42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
(NIV)

Have you ever had a time in your life when something happened and you were betrayed and let down by the people closest to you? Here you are going through the hardest time of your life; a time where you need support from your best friends, and you are alone. As Jesus was hanging on a cross with nails driven through his flesh, his back shredded to ribbons from a sever flogging, thorns piercing his skull, everyone around him began to mock him and laugh at his suffering. What kind of person mocks a dieing man? It was Satan's final hour, his last chance to break Jesus and cause him to sin. The soldiers hurled insults at him. Where was the blind man that received his sight? Where was the leper that was healed? Where was Jarius? Where was the demon-possessed man that was set free? Where were Peter and the rest of the disciples? No one came to his defense. No one came to encourage him. Then just when things seemed as though they could not get worse, the criminal dieing next to him joins in hurling insults at him. How had Jesus wronged any of these people, what had he done to deserve such treatment? Why didn't Jesus make them all fall over dead or have them all eaten by worms? He didn't bring wrath on them because he honestly loved those people. They were all his children and he wanted to save them more then punish them. Yes, he even loves the man that drove the nail through his wrist as much as he loves you and me.

During the darkest hour upon earth a miracle happened. The other criminal comes to Jesus defense and rebukes their actions. He defends Jesus, 'this man has done nothing wrong." Here is a man that has lived a life of crime, death is awaiting him, and Jesus touched his heart through his suffering. At that moment everything was put into perspective and Jesus looked to him and replied: 'today you will be with me in paradise." Yes paradise was seconds away! It was time to go home and he was bringing a new friend with him.

When your world is falling apart and everything is going wrong remember the crucifixion. Jesus endured the worst day anyone could have possibly ever had and did not sin, he did not give up, and in the midst of his greatest trial he won another soul over to the Kingdom. Having a bad day does not give us the right to be rude and vent on everyone around us. Don’t let a bad moment wreck your day. Bad moments are unavoidable, bad days are a choice. Just like picking your nose at the dinner table is unthinkable! So is walking around letting everyone know about how bad things are going for you is. Vow to never complain again about anything and never to say anything negative. If Jesus can be faithful, loving, forgiving, and evangelistic while dieing on a cross we can be faithful and grateful when a couple of things don’t work out the way we wanted them to! The same spirit that was in Jesus at the cross is in us today.
Rev 2:10 Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
(NIV)

Copyright 2005 Greg Graham